Compare towns
Dorset vs Exeter vs Manchester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dorset has the most kids (24% under 18).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Manchester has the shortest commute (14 min average).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Dorset | Exeter | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,092Lowest |
16,151Highest |
4,486 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5 18% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S. |
54.5±6.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Manchester and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.7%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Manchester and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$40kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$94,886±$23kLowest 18% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $569,200±$57kHighest 71% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$454,600±$47kLowest 37% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296 about the U.S. average |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,057±$76Lowest 25% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,489 140% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$5,923Lowest 90% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.5%±13.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.1%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #22 of 120 in NH | #37 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.